The Dallas Cowboys have never been strangers to criticism, but the noise around the franchise has grown noticeably louder in recent weeks. After a string of inconsistent performances, several national analysts labeled the Cowboys a “washed-up team,” suggesting that the league had finally figured them out and that their playoff window had quietly closed. The comment sparked a wave of reactions across social media—and eventually drew a strong, composed response from star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Lamb, who has quickly become the face of the Cowboys’ offense, was asked about the criticism during Thursday’s media availability. Instead of dismissing the narrative or firing back emotionally, he addressed it directly.
“People outside can say whatever they want,” Lamb said. “But nobody in this locker room believes we’re done. If anything, the criticism just reminds us how high the expectations are for this team. Washed up? No. Hungry? Absolutely.”
Analysts have pointed to several issues as reasons for the Cowboys’ struggles: injuries to key players, an unsteady offensive rhythm, defensive lapses in late-game moments, and inconsistent execution on long drives. But Lamb emphasized that none of those challenges have affected the team’s confidence.
“This is the NFL—you’re going to hit rough patches,” he continued. “But great teams respond, and that’s what we’re built to do. We’re not folding. We’re not backing down. We know what we’re capable of.”
Lamb’s teammates echoed his sentiment, with several describing the narrative as premature and exaggerated. One unnamed veteran noted that the Cowboys are still very much in the playoff hunt and have the pieces to make a late-season push.
Still, the criticism has clearly struck a chord throughout the organization. Sources inside the team say the comments have been circulating in group chats and team meetings—not to create tension, but to fuel motivation. Head coach Mike McCarthy reportedly told players earlier this week that “nobody decides your story but you,” a message that resonated with veterans and young players alike.
For Lamb, the focus remains on action rather than words.
“We’re not here to convince the critics,” he said. “We’re here to prove it on the field. And trust me—we’re far from finished.”
As the Cowboys prepare for their upcoming matchup, the question now shifts from whether they’re “washed up” to whether this wave of criticism might be exactly what they needed to spark a late-season resurgence.
We’re down bad for the pop star’s natural beauty
Taylor Swift is a showgirl who also knows how to strip things back.
Fans may be used to seeing the glam pop star dolled up in her signature red lip and bedazzled looks, but in her new docuseries following her hugely successful Eras Tour, Swift is letting her natural beauty shine.
In a trailer for the six-part The End of an Era Disney+ special, streaming on Dec. 12, the “Fate of Ophelia” singer, 35, is seen bare-faced (or wearing subtle makeup) and with her banged blonde hair unstyled in behind-the-scenes footage. She also wears Kansas City Chiefs merch in support of her fiancé, Travis Kelce, who also makes a quick appearance in the teaser.
The series will also give an unfiltered look at how the Grammy winner winds down after pulling off her three-hour shows. In the first trailer that dropped on Oct. 13, there’s a scene where Swift removes her makeup — including her fake lashes — which gave Swifties a blink-and-you-miss-it opportunity to find out what products Swift really uses.
Over the years, the Miss Americana star has kept mum about her beauty secrets. The exception was when her makeup artist Lorrie Turk spilled the trendsetter’s favorite lipsticks last fall.
However, fans were able to zoom in just enough to uncover the must-haves on Swift’s beauty stash, including Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Super Anti-Aging Cleansing Cream, Tata Harper Skincare’s Regenerating Cleanser, Christophe Robin’s Delicate Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner with Rose Extracts, and OUAI’s Body Cleanser. Sarah Chapelle, creator of @taylorswiftstyled, shared the details on her Instagram.
The End of an Era charts “the development, impact, and inner-workings that created the phenomenon that was The Eras Tour” and will give “an intimate look at Taylor’s life as her tour made headlines and thrilled fans around the world.” It will also accompany the premiere of
Swift’s new projects follow the release of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.
“I think we wanted this album to feel really luxurious,” Swift shared in a Sept. 20 Instagram video detailing the exclusive album merch. “And kind of as a nod to the luxury that a showgirl puts on when she’s on stage.”